Final Boarding Call for Pennies

Richmond, British Columbia: Vancouver Airport Authority (YVR) is calling on travellers and the airport community to donate their pennies to help fund lunches for children in need this summer.

“Many kids rely on school lunch programs for healthy food,” says Elizabeth Crudgington, Executive Director, Quest Food Exchange. “When schools are closed in the summer, providing lunch can be an extra burden for families that are already struggling financially.”

From June 13 to 28, YVR will be collecting pennies to benefit Quest Food Exchange, a Vancouver-based not-for-profit organization that helps those in need access affordable, healthy food. With the money raised, food vouchers will be provided to families with children to shop in Quest’s three not-for-profit grocery markets. As little as $30 (or 3,000 pennies) can provide a month of lunches for a child.

Travellers and the general public can donate their change at one of two coin collection kiosks, located at the International Terminal and Domestic Terminal food courts. The penny drive is an extension of the Airport Authority’s long-standing post-security coin ball program, through which travellers donate their change.

“Loose change can be a real hassle for travellers. Whether it is having to empty your pockets before passing through security screening or trying to get rid of local currency before flying home,” says Anne Murray, VP of Community and Environmental Affairs, Vancouver Airport Authority. “Especially now that the penny is being eliminated, we felt we could put all that change to good use in our community.”

In addition to collecting travellers’ pennies, the Airport Authority is challenging its internal departments and Sea Island businesses to a friendly competition to see which group can collect the most pennies. The coins will be weighed, and winners declared, at a public weigh-in on June 28.

YVR began its partnership with Quest in February 2011. To date, the Sea Island community has donated $120,000 in cash through sponsorship and fundraising initiatives and has donated more than $125,000 worth (or approximately 1,650kg) of food.

About Vancouver Airport AuthorityVancouver Airport Authority is a community-based, not-for-profit organization that operates Vancouver International Airport (YVR). Canada's second busiest airport, YVR served approximately 17 million passengers in 2011 and handled more than 258,000 aircraft landings and take-offs on its runways. Sixty-three airlines serve YVR, connecting people and businesses to more than 100 destinations in Canada, the U.S. and around the world. The Airport Authority is committed to creating an airport that British Columbia can be proud of: a premier global gateway, local economic generator and community contributor.